Katie Rempe: Knitting is so cool because as you knit, you can create the whole fabric as you go, which
means
you can make it into many interesting shapes.
James Divine: I never
think
about that you're actually making fabric, I guess because it's not often that you cut and sew knitted fabric together. You mostly are just creating it into the shape
that you want. that's very cool to think about all the different shapes that could be incorporated into your knitting.
Katie Rempe: Yeah, and if you want to cut your knitting into that shape, beware, that will also soon change its shape because unless you have a
reinforced
those stitches, They're going to be running away from you pretty quick, much
better to knit it in the shape that you want and one item in particular that pretty much you can make any
shape of anymore
that I've seen are shawls.
They seemingly come in any shape,
Jim.
James Divine: Yeah, you shape or a big old triangle shape or rectangular shapes
Katie Rempe: Circles,
waves,
all sorts of things that aren't even lying flat. It's crazy. You could even knit a shawl for a knit
James Divine: little gnomes,
what episode was that?
Katie Rempe: Just a few weeks ago, and we'll make sure to link that if you haven't seen it yet. Super worth watching
James Divine: knitting little teeny tiny shawls for all of them. Let's do
it.
Katie Rempe: Let's dive in
this week and talk all about the magic that shapes Summon
in our knitting.
Light from Lantern presents Knit a Spell. I'm magical maker Katie Rempe. And I'm the maker of magic James Divine. Join us as we stitch together the symbiotic relationship between crafting and the craft.
Favorite Shapes
---
Katie Rempe: Right, first I want to know, Jim, Do you have a favorite shape?
James Divine: I love the ellipse, which is an oval or an egg shape. I like it when it's a little narrow on one side and wider on the other. The egg shape, the ellipse, is my favorite shape. Maybe that's because I think about the orbit of objects around the sun or around each other in space.
And
just this idea of you can sling something around and it's very rare that it will be in a perfect circle.
Most of the time it's some sort of an ellipse.
When I'm painting or drawing. I can be
more
accurate in the blocking in of a human
form
If it's all ellipses and no
lines.
I think that all of nature is just a series of ellipses.
Katie Rempe: yeah. Rounded edges.
You're
so right.
James Divine: What about you? What's your favorite shape?
Katie Rempe: It's funny that you say ellipse because my favorite shape is a circle,
But I like it perfect. I want
James Divine: like a perfect ellipse. You want a perfect
circle?
Katie Rempe: Yes.
Sacred Geometry
---
Katie Rempe: Do you have any theories on why shapes seem to have different magical abilities or powers?
James Divine: First off, I think it's a psychological phenomenon. Human beings often will make
meaning
out of random occurrences. This is something called periodilia, which is our ability to see faces In the clouds or a rabbit in the clouds or something like that, or we'll see, we'll often see faces in the front end of cars or we'll see faces and, all kinds of things, the bark of a tree.
this is a natural human ability to say, Oh, if there's a shape that reminds me of, or
that's related
to, and in a lot of cases, it really is related to something. So if you think about seeing a hexagon that
hexagon shape We see that in the beehive. Bees are so important to nature and we're a source of sustenance and sweetener and food for people.
And so when we see that hexagon, it can have that meaning of sweetness. There can be a lot of meanings with that shape.
So I think that's
also part of it is things we see in nature and the things we see, around us can
give that meeting.
Katie Rempe: We've talked about this in the past. And another example that I thought of was the ring, right? We use it to symbolize no end because there's no end. I think that's another area where we don't even think about it, but obviously it has made its way into everyone's subconscious.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
James Divine: That's
right.
Katie Rempe: And so then I guess it makes sense that sacred geometry is such a thing?
James Divine: I
think it, yeah,
sacred geometry likely started with that sort of association with the natural world, the spiral of a Nautilus shell or of a fiddlehead of a fern, which is a new growth of a fern. We see spirals well in all kinds of shells when we cut them open. Or we'll see other shapes in nature and we'll make associations based on, what that represents to us or the meaning we put on it.
And I think over time, a lot of those sort of golden ratio shapes that we see in nature we will extrapolate from there on pen and paper.
So you start to have people examine the spiral and the ever increasing, distance of the lines in the spiral and look at the mathematical or the even before math was that advanced, the geometric properties of those shapes and you start to experiment with stars and with circles and triangles and all those things together, you start to realize that they have relationships with each other.
They have mathematical relationships and it can actually get almost spiritual, kind of spooky, the way that different shapes will interact with each other and what might happen if you put them together or try to make a repeating pattern. So that I think was a big area of exploration, with Pythagoras and with other mathematicians in, much earlier times.
So the sacredness of it can be adopted with that symbolism, in Catholicism or in the church, there was the symbolism of the cross. There was the symbolism of the star. All kinds of things that were basic geometric shapes.
So we see the pentagram in papal seals up until the 1600s, 1700s, we see the pentagram or the interlaced star on cathedral rosettes, which is the big stained glass behind the altar at the front of the church because those were sacred, symbols back then they weren't associated with Satanism or anything nefarious until recently, much, much recently in history.
Katie Rempe: Like you said, they all work together. These basic shapes. It's like when you're a kid and you're like, oh, this one goes into this hole. But then later you're like but then these also fit together into different things. And I
think
for people who
believe that we live in a hologram. This is like the repeating pattern evidence that they are speculating is all part of it. And that's why, everything works together and has these energies is because It's all part of how things are made around us.
James Divine: When you start to get higher than that into the math, you start to realize what happens if I make, even simply, if I make a five pointed star, like you do on your paper, like you give someone a good job, what if I did a seven pointed star?
Oh, what does
that mean?
What is the power of that number of seven? And what might that mean? What if it was a nine pointed star? So you start to get into these different explorations into variations on the shapes. What if they interlace? What if they interlock in different ways? What if it's two triangles? that are opposite each other and you make a star of David or a seal of
Solomon
and then you do, Whoa, I could do that with eight or I could do that with 10.
So the even numbers and the odd numbers and the different ways that you
can make
those into stars or make them into 3d shapes. The fun with these things are endless. Yeah,
Knitting with Sacred Geometry
---
Katie Rempe: find the art of the math in that, it really is fun. I geek out on sacred geometry a lot as a knitwear
designer because I'm always trying to translate those things into my knitting and since it's all math, it's pretty easy to if you have a little bit of creativity to make that into a actual knitted object, which is pretty fun.
James Divine: I see something in 3d, but if I'm going to flatten it out and make it into fabric, what would that look like? How would I map that up?
I wonder about that. Things like mandalas like my husband is currently crocheting a very large round rug blanket, like a blanket and each two or three inch, part has a very distinct pattern, a scalloped pattern or a bubble.
Or all kinds of things. And although it's crochet, it has a similar idea that he's making this fabric and eventually it's going to be like a picnic blanket or something to sit on. And it is completely a mandala.
It's different
colors and it's really cool. And so mandalas are often.
They could be any shape, but a lot of times they're round and they have a series of spiritual symbolism in each, area. I think about that with fabric and with knitting, that you can bring those together.
Katie Rempe: Even knitting, you can definitely do center out designs or from the out, in, again, depending on your intention and the directionality of what you're doing, that could be, that you want it to be drawn in versus going out.
James Divine: And this is when we get to a spiral, mmm. you can knit a spiral. If you're going from the center out, you can do it,
Clockwise or counterclockwise. And those have different meanings.
Katie Rempe: Oh
James Divine: And I think we should talk about what those meanings are.
After our break.
Katie Rempe: My brain is already bubbling. I can't wait. We'll be right back.
Knit With Color Magic
---
Katie Rempe: Hey there fellow knitters! Are you ready to enchant your stitches with the power of color? Discover how in my online workshop, Knit with Color Magic. In Knit with Color Magic, you'll learn how to use color as an intention setting tool. This self paced workshop will teach you everything you need to know to get out of your color ruts and conjure bewitching combinations while adding intention.
You'll also learn how to build a strong and simple intention, how to translate intention into colors, and to develop and develop. A personal gir of color correspondences. With a simple shift in your mindset and some personal reflection, you can start knitting color magic into any project. And for a limited time, listeners of the show can save $20 off this workshop by using the code color 20 at checkout.
Find all the information in the description or visit lightfromlantern.com/knitwithcolormagic to learn more. Merry make.
Intro To Pamistry
---
James Divine: So you've taken my intro to palmistry course, and I'm wondering, do you have any realizations as a result? I realized that this entire time I have been a Muppet who uses their hands to express and emote. After taking your course, I've realized I've probably been giving away my own unconscious motivations this whole time.
But only to the people who know the divine hand palmistry method. I gotta be in the know. And if people are familiar with the divine hand method, your repeated gestures with your hands. definitely give away your unconscious motivations. You can be a mind reader. Do you find that you can get insight into other people based on their hand gestures?
Oh yes. I'm hyper aware of, is it the right hand where it's more of your outer personality? Is it the left hand that's featured more of your inner personality? I am now overanalyzing. Especially as you come into election season, which seems to happen every year these days. It's so fun to watch for repeated gestures.
I highly recommend anyone who might be interested or curious in learning more about Intro to Palmistry to take Jim's brand new online course. It's self paced and it's available at introtopalmistry. com. That's where you can find out more information and sign up.
Join Us On Patreon!
---
Katie Rempe: Hey Knit Aspel fans, we are back on Patreon with a new dedicated page. For just 5 a month, you'll gain access to behind the scenes posts, exclusive downloads and resources, and you'll be able to participate in influential polls with fellow fans. You'll also receive a free exclusive Knit Aspel sticker sent right to your door after being a subscriber for three consecutive months.
It's a great way to support the podcast and Jim and I are so appreciative to everyone who's joined so far. To learn more and patreon. If you'd like to sign up, visit patreon. com forward slash knit a spell. See you there.
James Divine: When we went on the break, I left you with a little cliffhanger.
Katie Rempe: Tease.
James Divine: which was if you knit clockwise versus counterclockwise. So in modern magical practice that's sometimes called deocil, clockwise, which is the way the sun
goes. Or wittershins is an interesting word, wittershins,
which means
counterclockwise.
traditionally clockwise was thought to be
the
way that you would be spiraling in order to grow and increase and progress. It's traditionally seen as a more positive direction. And Wittershins was seen as downward and undoing
and,
It's had more of a pejorative or slightly negative implication.
Of course, modern thinking, you realize neither one is good or bad. They're just different directions for different purposes. So I think of anti clockwise or counterclockwise movement in a spiral to be cutting something out. Or a descent into an initiatory experience, like the story of the descent of Inanna, which is great to look up and read.
So that is spiraling inwards and doing deeper work that's internal. So that's what I think about as anticlockwise or Witterson's movement. Clockwise movement is, I think, Aligned with the progression in growth, the growth upwards, the path towards enlightenment and it's symbolic of the cycles of life and seasons Things like that.
If you're knitting something that is perhaps intended to bring you enlightenment and knowledge and growth perhaps you want to knit it in a clockwise manner You And use colors and maybe sparkly threads or whatever it is that would help with that intention. And if you want something that will have you be more internally focused, more deep, reflective, then you can do it in a counterclockwise manner and perhaps match the colors to that.
Katie Rempe: Oh, you could even put a reflective yarn in there. Take it real literal.
Knitting in Both Directions!
---
James Divine: So is that possible
to do?
Katie Rempe: the right left, quote, right
handed. However,
no, it would be clockwise.
James Divine: So that would be counter clockwise.
Katie Rempe: You are correct. I'm making my brain think hard and I think that
is correct.
James Divine: I have a clock
on the wall. And whenever I think of it, I'm like, okay, counterclockwise is right to left
and clockwise is
left to right.
Katie Rempe: I
never really considered this.
So people who are left handed usually learn how to knit right handed. So we're all doing the same counterclockwise direction if we're going in the circle. However, there are some people that I know who were like, I'm not going to do that. And they taught themselves to knit the other way, which is a choice, because then
James Divine: good job
Katie Rempe: careful to either translate all the patterns.
To go reflect or just be okay that everything is gonna be the mirrored image of what is written. That is okay, but
James Divine: if you're knitting words. I
Katie Rempe: would be a really interesting exercise for a person who's used to knitting, in the counterclockwise direction, to try to do it
the other way
just for fun.
That would be the reflective thing, you really would have
to think about that.
James Divine: think it would
be good for right hand regular right handed knitters to do it the other way because we live in a right handed world, as every lefty will tell you. And the right hand dominance of the world, we even have negative words to say, where does the word sinister come from? It comes from the Italian word, Sinestro, which means left.
So
We have discouraged left handed people for, generations of trying to fix left handed people and make them right. We even say
when we're
agreeing, we're like, Oh, that's right.
Katie Rempe: Oh. Writing. We're never lefting. Oh.
James Divine: we're never lefting. So I'm going to say, yeah, that's left.
Katie Rempe: I like it. I feel
like we've maybe had this conversation before.
James Divine: You're absolutely left. We
Katie Rempe: Yes.
James Divine: You're on the left path.
Knit Spirals
---
James Divine: Yes. Okay, so when you knit in a spiral, what are you making? What can you do with that?
Katie Rempe: When we are knitting
in a circle, we're really knitting in a spiral. So whether you are casting on something like we have here the Op Art Blanket, it's made from the center. out so you're really just layering row after row into the circle on your way out.
So you're not actually just doing a circle because if you did that you would be done.
James Divine: That op art blanket is super trippy. Why does it look like four triangles? Is it because of the slip stitches that sort of separate the sections?
Katie Rempe: In order to increase the shape, they have chosen to use four increases to get this. Which is why in the end it looks like a square. Like a weird square. And if you don't do some aggressive blocking, it will stay a weird square. That's because
she did
four perfectly spaced increases in the corners. Now if she had done eight or nine, that would have actually changed the overall shape. It would have been much more even.
James Divine: So you could knit this as a spiral that's more circular,
and it
would have ended up as a round blanket instead of a square ish.
she's probably blocking that so that it's square and not as like bubbly square,
Katie Rempe: Yep, exactly.
Because there are patterns out there that essentially look like a knit mandala. Where it is, sections making larger sections, you know, lace section and then a more dense
section and then, a whole pico, pointy, triangular border.
Lots of
options.
James Divine: it's very cool.
I would love to have a true instead of the stripes that she has, I would love to have one that's an actual
spiral. around spiral blanket would be so cool.
Katie Rempe: Oh,
okay. Yeah, that would definitely, you could just do that with just having the yarn be like a long color change. That would be really fun.
Knitting Triangles
---
Katie Rempe: The next shape I want to talk about is another very popular one in the shawl department and that is triangles. So many shapes, like a perfect triangle, a long triangle, a weird winging out one side triangle. You can tell I know all of the technical terms of
triangles.
James Divine: Are a lot of those knit as squares and then folded over my body to make a triangle
Katie Rempe: Nope, they
are knit.
Sun Shawl
---
Katie Rempe: actually as a triangle. For example, I'm holding here my sun shawl.
James Divine: Oh, yeah, that's a little triangle
Katie Rempe: It's a triangle.
Yeah.
James Divine: a little scarfy
though.
Katie Rempe: You can do whatever, but like there, and so
then the triangle
points down. It's a nice little fit here.
James Divine: You're
wearing it like a cowl.
Katie Rempe: Yeah, but it's a triangle and I love triangular shawls. I have another one shipped to shore shawl that looks like a sail. So that was like very appropriate.
James Divine: My husband crocheted a triangular, very large pineapple stitch shawl that's really beautiful.
And it's a
big old triangle and he just wraps it around himself.
Katie Rempe: Yeah, it's
James Divine: But it's big enough to be almost a poncho, but it's not it's a shawl
Katie Rempe: Sure. It can be as big as small as you want it to be, that's great. The thing about this one is it started with just like one stitch and then increases until you get to the end where there are all of these stitches. So that is what is making
the shape
by just increasing on the one
side.
James Divine: Now,
Would you say that is an equilateral triangle? or it's an asymmetrical? Triangle it's longer on one end
then on Right.
Katie Rempe: It has
all three different lengths.
James Divine: Yeah. So
that's really cool because so often
we see
people knitting or crocheting things that are like symmetrical
triangles.
in one way or Another,
And I love that this is a asymmetrical triangle, which is way cool,
Katie Rempe: I find these fit better if they're the really long triangles than it's too long and it sometimes like gets between your legs and I'm like, I don't need my knit cowl all the way down there.
James Divine: Yeah. If you're gonna wear it like a cow, for
sure. If
you're gonna wear it as a wrap, you probably want it to
Katie Rempe: better. Yes. Good point.
James Divine: Triangles really incorporate the power of three. So since
most
of the time
it's a equal
sided
triangle or
an equilateral triangle that is indicative of the body, mind, spirit, or of the holy
Trinity.
So it can be this sort of like divine connection, we find that triangles in the real world have amazing properties, especially in. Being a very strong structural like a brace, makes all braces often make triangles and those tend to be very much more secure than a square.
So triangles are very important in structural integrity. So they can be a really strong aspect. When we see the symbols for earth, air, fire, and water, their glyphs, if
you will,
those are often triangles, fire and water are an upward and downward triangle, and then earth and air have a line through them the upper and lower.
pointing triangles. So we could look at those triangles as, Symbolic of the elements. So if you have a triangle that's pointing up, that's a fire or transformation aspect.
If you're
going to wear a cowl or wear a cloak or a scarf or a poncho that's made out of a triangle.
It's going to be pointing down.
And so that's
the symbol of water. So you could be thinking about that as an emotional comfort.
Katie Rempe: Oh Yeah,
James Divine: you could knit it up, intentionally putting sort of transformation, and then when you wear it down, it's carrying that idea
of water and of emotional comfort.
So it could
be emotional transformation if you wanted to do
that.
Katie Rempe: Whoa!
Way to layer it on. . So smart.
James Divine: If you did a band of color work the top or the bottom,
You can incorporate earth and air
Katie Rempe: Yes.
James Divine: or as you knit it.
Katie Rempe: So many great ideas.
James Divine: Maybe I could be
a knitwear designer, even if I don't
knit.
Katie Rempe: yeah, anyone can do it. It's so easy,
we've come up with like a thousand designs this
James Divine: right, make me that pattern
Katie. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Katie Rempe: Wait till next season! You're gonna have a whole crapload of knit stuff you didn't actually want.
James Divine: Hopefully!
Knit Squares & Rectables
---
Katie Rempe: Alright, rectangles is the next one on the list. And, rectangle is just a long square. Do they have the same correspondences, would you say?
James Divine: it's actually the other way around. Squares are equal sided rectangles.
Officially. Or is it the other way around? Yeah,
but it
Katie Rempe: like a real chicken egg
situation.
James Divine: I think rectangle
is the
umbrella term and square is a version of a rectangle with equal sides. That's my mathematical understanding from my engineering father.
Katie Rempe: I might be this many years old when
James Divine: What, yeah, what does he know? He's just, a rocket scientist.
Katie Rempe: They'd give that out
to anybody. Ha,
James Divine: Okay. so
the
squares really rely on the right angles,
and that's what determines whether something
is a
rectangle or
if it's some other shape. So the idea that there's these 90 degree angles and it's something is square, is our house is neither plumb or level or square because it was built in 1920s.
Oh, we're always.
if we have to
fix something in the walls, we're always, winging it
In any
case, this is like
the astrology.
If you have a square in astrology, it's often a very fixed issue. There's often a block
there or a
difficulty, but what can you do with blocks?
You
can. Yeah.
Katie Rempe: them!
James Divine: So you can build your foundation, you can build your home, you can build protection. So there's a lot of ways to use the idea of a square as a foundation garment not a foundation garment, that makes it sound like lingerie, but as of, as something symbolic of your grounding or of your foundation or of what you're building.
And there's also this idea that the four sides could represent. the four elements,
especially if it
is a square. You can also fold that square diagonally and it looks like a triangle. You
can rotate
that square, 45 degrees and it looks like
a diamond.
So there's a lot of really cool stuff
to do
with squares that can give it additional meanings.
Katie Rempe: Yeah, and then
you build
squares on squares and that creates a whole other shape,
especially
if you are knitting I don't know if it's a mitered square or what it is exactly, but there are designs out there where it is a square, but, diagonal half,
one color and then another color.
And then you make a bunch of those and you lay those out quilting piecework
in
James Divine: It
reminds me of granny squares in crochet.
Katie Rempe: Yeah.
James Divine: Or
even the,
member when and I'm,
it's
not a square, but remember when we talked about the beekeepers quilt
and those were knitted hexagons.
that I
think you stuff them a little bit. Don't you put a little batting in there or something
Katie Rempe: You can, yes.
James Divine: you can and then they make it a little puffy like a beehive.
Couldn't you do that in any shape,
Katie Rempe: certainly. Why right? Yeah. So I think about the granny square quilt. I have a quilt on my bed that is a series of knitted squares that have patterns,
James Divine: just like you said, only
it's all white and it's just, bubbles and all kinds of little patterns in there.
So really cool to think about how we can build things
with squares, even
if we were just knitting small ones,
Katie Rempe: And I'm thinking
as we're talking like, oh my god, duh, these are foundational shapes and what else are foundational things? Quite often you learn to knit while knitting
squares
that then are seamed into a whole afghan or something. I know when I worked at skacel we published a book for a woman.
It was the Building Blocks Blanket. Duh! after you learn how to cast on a knit and purl, then this the series of squares get harder and teach you new skills until at the end you have 12 of them, I think, and then you make it all into, you seam it into
the blanket.
James Divine: So it's
like a sampler for cross stitch, except. For
knitting,
Katie Rempe: Exactly.
James Divine: That's genius. That is absolutely genius. Now I have a thing to do with my swatches.
As I get better at knitting swatches, my quilt goes from lousy to pretty much on point.
Katie Rempe: And I think the more unique the swatches are, the
better it
is to, scrappy quilt together because it has so much more character, right?
James Divine: That's true. Who wants
Katie Rempe: them all the same.
James Divine: Who wants a perfect quilt?
Katie Rempe: I don't. Boring.
James Divine: Every time I see those perfect things on Ravelry, I think, I hate it.
Katie Rempe: Oh, they're not perfect, trust me. Ha! It's just
perception
James Divine: good photography.
Knit Mobius
---
Katie Rempe: That's right. Let's talk about not a circle, but a
Mobius.
James Divine: right. If
you take
a long rectangle, like a scarf, give it a half twist, And sew it together, you have what is called a Möbius strip.
And the unique thing about a Möbius strip is, you can do this with a piece of
paper, a
strip of paper also. If you start drawing a line on one side, you'll eventually meet that line, because there's only one side to that strip.
It's a way to create sort of a figure eight.
Katie Rempe: It's the infinity symbol,
which
I guess makes sense if you're always meeting, again your end. Jim, there are two ways that as a knitter you can emulate this. So the first method
is
something that if you don't do intentionally will really ruin your day. And that is when you join,
let's say,
a cowl in the round. So you're making it into the circle for the first time.
If you are not very careful that all of your stitches are pointing down, You could accidentally make it into a
Mobius by
not realizing that
your stitches
are going around the needle at some point. And then that's a big problem. Because if you've ever worn a shirt with a twist in it, it's not cute!
James Divine: Interesting.
Katie Rempe: Yes! If you want to make a Mobius, the easy way to do it is put that half twist in the knitting, Before you do the first round of knitting, so you like, lock it in.
However, there is a much more complicated way to knit a Mobius,
and it
is a Mobius cast on. And it requires the following.
A really super long needle, like 60 inch needle. And this pretty complicated cast on technique, which we didn't even talk about in the cast ons because it was so elaborate. To make a true Mobius that you knit in that shape. It is wild, Jim.
You should Google
it. It's crazy.
James Divine: What would I Google
Katie Rempe: Mobius
cast on.
James Divine: the Mobius cast on?
Oh, Wow.
Katie Rempe: I don't know if Kat Bordy figured this out, but I know I learned
it from
her, and that's the instruction that I learned from.
And we'll put a picture here of an example, too, if you're like,
what
are we even talking about?
James Divine: I love the picture because it does this in the front. It like overlaps,
but then you see that
it's just curled under
How did you do that without actually having two ends? So it's very cool.
The magical associated with the mobius or the infinity symbol, the lamenscape. This is obviously a symbol of the infinite the connection to the divine, the power from the universe, inspiration, elevation, enlightenment.
A lot of times In witchy circles, we might think of
the infinite as an image of the goddess, as the infinite mother, the infinite provider, the power of the universe, as an infinite inspiration. So if you're looking for that vibe, it would be really cool to create something like this.
Of course, if I was doing it, I would create a very long strip and then give it a half twist and just stitch it together at the ends because
I don't have the skills to do the
magical Mobius cast
on.
Katie Rempe: takes some trial and error, even
for the best
of us, so that's a smart way to set yourself up for success, Jim.
James Divine: But I
love this, that there's
these challenge, like,
these amazing complex things is so cool. And how magical is that to be doing
that
with intention?
Katie Rempe: Yeah.
I always think of the strength card from the tarot whenever I think of the infinity symbol.
James Divine: Think of the magician from the
tarot also has the lemmas
Gate above the head which is access to all as above. So below I can create anything. So both of those tarot cards have that infinity symbol above the head.
Knitting Stars
---
Katie Rempe: Very cool. All right, let's wrap up with one more and
that is a star.
James Divine: We talked a little bit about it earlier. Sometimes called the pentacle or the pentagram. The star symbol by itself without a circle is often the pentagram. There's also a pentagon, which is a five sided figure.
Pentagram is a five pointed figure. And so the pentagram is the smallest interlaced star symbol that you can make. And it has a lot of really cool mathematical
Geometric
Uses and it's been extrapolated on and studied. The Wikipedia article, which we have linked also lots of links in this episode by itself is fascinating.
You'll see the pentagram symbol. In papal seals, you'll see it in church rosettes. You'll see it in Christian symbology. Up until the modern times. So the idea that it's associated with satanic, practices is a total invention.
Modern invention. This is often been a symbol of Protection. It's been a symbol of great metaphysical and mathematical meanings. Today we think of it as protective. We can think of the five points
as being
an idea of the outstretched human with the arms, legs, and head. So a symbol of humanity. It can be seen as a symbol of protection and of sacredness.
It's also could be seen as the four elements and then the spirit. Added to that so five elements really a powerful symbol and really a universal symbol So any of those could be incorporated into a piece that has a star but are you knitting something in the shape of a star?
Katie Rempe: That's a great question. So, You can. I
have an example
here where it's a three dimensional star that is knit. And then, of course, you can also knit intarsia into something. It's not the shape of a star, but the colors are in the shapes of stars. Onto a yoke or something
like that.
James Divine: Oh, I see. The star that is on this Shooting stars pattern is an eight pointed
star
Katie Rempe: And that's another thing. There are many star shapes and points. You can have many Numbers of points and then that again can influence what the intention is around that.
James Divine: for sure. Any even number of stars is two independent shapes put together.
So if you take two equilateral triangles, one pointing up, one pointing down and put them
on top
of each other, that's
the Star of David
or the seal of Solomon. If you take two squares and
put them on each
other, that is a
eight pointed
star, which also has a lot of magical meanings.
And as you go on with your hexagons and your octagons and everything else, and you put them and rotate them by a little bit, you'll have all these multi pointed even numbered of stars. And likewise, if it's an odd number
of points,
then you just make a star. But instead of stopping at five, you stop at seven or nine or 11.
So you get all of these little points.
Katie Rempe: Did you like the physical star? It looks like a decoration that you might
do like
a whole bunch
of them.
That would be really fun.
James Divine: I think those are Christmas ornaments, right?
Katie Rempe: They probably are, or certainly could be, if that's not what the intention was.
James Divine: That
would be make a really great throw pillow.
Katie Rempe: oh, yeah, make
it out of a jumbo yarn
and like size 15 needles instead. Oh, yeah.
James Divine: how fun would that be to have like your tassels on your
stocking cap with a star at the end.
Katie Rempe: you could even put it as like
an applique somewhere. That would be fun.
Some like three dimensional patch kind of a
thing. So many options, Jim.
James Divine: So good.
Katie Rempe: I've so enjoyed doing these episodes with you, Jim. I'm always inspired at
the end
of each one. I'm like, I gotta make all these projects. I got to start something
with a million stars in the shape of a triangular circle,
James Divine: I hope all of you Listening are inspired.
What are you inspired to make? Even if you don't make it, drop us a line and let us know what you're inspired to make as a result of this episode, I'd love to know.
Next Week Teaser
---
Katie Rempe: And don't miss out on next week, because we have on a very special guest to talk all about what we do when we're finished with knitting and ways to adorn it. And that is
with our
special guest author, Christy Johnson
of Mystical Stitches.
James Divine: cool.
We are going to be talking about this book
Katie Rempe: That's the one.
James Divine: how all about embroidery and embellishment. She's amazing. You're going to love it.
Katie Rempe: Join us
Next week when we interview Christy.
James Divine: I can't wait and I will see you then.
Katie Rempe: See you then everybody.
Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a review on iTunes and Spotify, or following Knittaspel on Instagram. You can also subscribe to the Light From Lantern YouTube channel to enjoy full episodes of Knittaspel and see our happy faces.
You can also learn more about readings and knitting. Classes and events going on with your favorite maker of magic, James Divine by visiting the Divine hand.com and subscribing to his newsletter. Then follow Jim's fun and interactive Instagram account at Divine Hand Gym. Keep up with Katie the magical maker by subscribing to her [email protected].
You'll receive a. If you'd like to receive a free knitting pattern as a gift then follow Katie on Instagram at light from lantern for even more magical making tips. See you next week.
